Dahlin, Bo

Abstract [en]

This paper argues for the relevance of the so-called semiotic triad of C S Peirce within phenomenography. According to Peirce, a triad of internal relations between the sign, the referent and the interpretant is the basic analytic tool for investigating human perception. The relation between the interpretant and the referent is characterised as phenomenological, whereas that between the interpretant and the sign is seen as hermeneutical. Phenomenography and variation theory so far has not paid due attention to the fact that access to phenomena involves both of these relations. Human understanding develops on the basis of perceptual experience of phenomena as well as on participating in language-mediated discourse about the same phenomena